Project Calm – July 2019

87

tones or softening to a pinkish hued stillness. Warm,
golden summer evenings carry with them a honeyed-
pink glow. Interiors that depend heavily on natural light
are more effective when they blend outside and inside
through shapes, form and colour.
Natural surfaces, curves and fabrics should make the
most of adaptable colour schemes that capture, blend
and enhance the different qualities of light as it shifts
throughout the day. Hazy pink palettes bring to mind
lazy summer evenings, nostalgic dreams of painted
wooden houses and colonial rooms with sparse, broad
f loors, tall windows f lung wide. Rooms are calm and
languid, the epitome of a cool, serene haven in which
to escape the heat of the day.
Pinks do not have to be childish, sweet or naive

• they can be clear, slick and graphic, challenging
  preconceptions. Soft greens and pinks look great
  together. Try a f lash of sharp-edged contrast colour
  with a linear form or pattern to build a contemporary

pink scheme. An explosion of citrus lime or lemon, or

a burst of brightest violet blue provides an unexpected,

joyous flash.

Pink doesn’t always need to dominate a scheme to

make its presence known. Against deep, rich colours,

such as charcoal or inky blue, or the deepest shade of

azure green, dusky pinks and poppy or bright tomato

reds will fizz and resonate. The darkened backdrop

allows these colours to express themselves with a sense

of drama, like dancers on a stage set. Pink is the centre

of attention, yet still elegant and graceful; these pinks are

neither overbearing nor showy. For this kind of scheme,

choose dusty, bruised, or powdery pinks. Favour those

with reddish, terracotta or peachy tones, or f lattened

pinks blended with a touch of grey.

These colours could almost be lifted from a make-

up artist’s palette. Densely woven wools and antique

velvets absorb light and enhance the richness of a colour,

creating a voluptuous effect that is both striking and

refined. These pinks are sophisticated and sensual, rich,

f lattering colours that bring a strong sense of quiet style

and grace to any interior.

This is extracted

from Love Colour:

Choosing colours to

live with, by author and

photographer Anna

Starmer. Published by

Ivy Press (£25). Visit

http://www.quartoknows.com

Left: Whether it confronts the English

climate or a hot Indian summer, pink extends

a warm welcome. Below: A flash of bright

pink in a walled garden creates the perfect

backdrop to the deep green foliage and palms.